A bipartisan delegation of 11 U.S. congressional staff members from both the House and Senate visited the DSET to exchange views on key issues including information warfare, trade policy, semiconductors, and drone supply chains.
On information warfare and social media, delegates raised concerns over disinformation in Taiwan and the political influence of TikTok. In response, Dr. Kai-Sheng Huang, Director of DSET’s Democratic Governance Program, noted that Taiwan currently has no legislation banning TikTok, nor does it yet have a comprehensive legal framework to hold platforms accountable. Huang explained that DSET, together with partners in the EU and Japan, is promoting the use of the Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) framework to address these threats. Unlike traditional “disinformation” regulation that often stalls over truth-validation debates, the FIMI approach emphasizes analyzing intent, strategy, tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) — enabling policymakers to avoid free speech deadlocks while focusing on countering strategic manipulation, including its transition from online to offline activities.
On semiconductors and supply chain security, the delegation sought insights on ensuring U.S.–Taiwan cooperation. DSET experts highlighted Taiwan’s close attention to the outcome of the Section 232 tariff investigation, while also urging U.S. policymakers to remain vigilant on the threat of China’s rapidly expanding mature-node semiconductor production. According to DSET analysis, China’s capacity in mature processes is projected to surpass Taiwan’s within a few years, increasing dependency risks for allies. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative initiated a Section 301 investigation into Chinese mature-node semiconductors before leaving office under President Biden, but the process remains unfinished.
DSET emphasized that a mutually beneficial approach would be for the U.S. to exempt Taiwan’s semiconductors from tariffs while applying Section 232 and 301 tariffs on Chinese chips and end products. Additionally, Washington could consider export controls on equipment for mature-node semiconductors to curb China’s market expansion.
On drones, the delegation examined barriers to Taiwan–U.S. cooperation. DSET noted that progress has been made recently — as highlighted by a Financial Times report confirming that the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is set to station personnel in Taiwan to accelerate cooperation. U.S. firms are also deepening technical partnerships with Taiwan. Still, challenges remain: scaling Taiwan’s drone production requires not only government procurement (nearly 50,000 units were announced recently) but also international market access. Currently, Taiwanese drones are not included in the Blue UAS or Green UAS lists, nor has the U.S. federal government procured them. Moreover, the new Section 232 investigation into global drones and potential resulting tariffs could pose additional obstacles. DSET urged the U.S. government and Congress to address these concerns to unlock further cooperation.
Delegation members represented key Democratic and Republican offices in both chambers of Congress, including:
- Adam Taylor, Chief of Staff, Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA), Delegation Lead
- Ishmael Abuabara, Legislative Assistant, Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Ranking Member, Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, House Foreign Affairs Committee
- Logan Anderson, Legislative Assistant, Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), Chairman, Seapower Subcommittee, Senate Armed Services Committee
- Layla Brooks, Legislative Director, Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ)
- Emily Graeter, Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director, Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH)
- Molly McTaggart, Legislative Assistant, Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR)
- Albert Mercer, Legislative Assistant, Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX)
- Ian Pigg, Legislative Assistant, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
- Melissa Sanchez, Economic Policy Adviser, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chairman, Senate Democratic Strategic Communications Committee
- Calli Shapiro, Senior Policy Advisor, Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM)
- Jenna Zantow, Legislative Director, Rep. Tony Wied (R-WI)